Connah’s Quay Nomads ran riot at the Essity Stadium with a statement 4-0 victory over second-placed Penybont on Saturday evening.
Goals from Declan Poole, Callum Bratley and a Rhys Hughes double put the Nomads four goals ahead after 55 minutes securing a dominant win.
The Nomads remained unchanged from their 3-0 win away at Cardiff Met last week.
It was a quiet start to proceedings with both sides having few sights at goal, however it was the home side who took their chance when it fell to them.
Declan Poole opened the scoring in the 22nd minute firing into the bottom corner on the half volley past Luke Armstrong in the Penybont goal from nine yards out.
Minutes later, John Disney’s side were awarded a penalty after Ben Nash was pulled down in the six-yard box by defender Joe Woodiwiss – the Nomads’ third penalty in the last two matches.
Rhys Hughes smashed his penalty into the bottom left corner to double the Nomads lead. This was the 24-year-old’s seventh league goal of the season and third in two games.
Armstrong in the Penybont goal then made an acrobatic save to prevent Noah Edwards making it three before the break.
Things went from bad to worse for the away side as Clayton Green was shown a red card for pulling down Callum West just outside the 18-yard box, deep into additional time at the end of the first half.
Four minutes after the break, Callum Bratley killed things off for good. Callum West’s cross was headed into the bottom left corner past a helpless Armstrong in the Penybont goal.
The floodgates were opening, and it took only five minutes for the home side to find a fourth goal. Rhys Hughes doubled his tally for the night with a calmy taken finish into the bottom right corner after a neat bit of play from Callum West.
Abdi Sharif made his return from injury in the 65th minute replacing goal scorer Bratley. His first league appearance since late September.
Hughes was desperately trying to score his first hattrick for The Nomads, and it very nearly came when he attempted to chip Armstrong from the halfway line. His effort narrowly floating over the bar.
Max Woodcock gave an energetic and exciting 15-minute cameo when he replaced Harry Franklin. He came close to adding a fifth for the Nomads when his strike from the left side of the 18-yard box narrowly passed the top right corner.
The last 20 minutes saw little action with the home side dominating the ball and controlling the tempo of play.
Connah’s Quay remain in fourth place, however they narrow the gap to Penybont to only one and are level on points with third placed Caernarfon Town.
Next up for the Nomads is Barry Town at the Essity Stadium next Saturday. John Disney will be hoping that his side can continue their fine form and edge closer to qualification for the top six.
A well beaten Penybont will be looking to turn their poor form around when they welcome Bala Town to The Dragonbet Stadium next week.
[Featured image courtesy of FA Wales]
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